String-cutting apparatus



Jan. 1, 1963 w. G. BROWN STRING-CUTTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1962 INVENTOR WlLLIAM 6. BROWN W. E ATTORNEY Jan. 1, 1963 w. G. BROWN 3,071,299

STRING-CUTTING APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1a Q79 \8 7=T Q'TIO INVENTOR WILLIAM 6, BROWN ATTORNEY articles for this purpose have suffered caps which it is a purpose of the present invention to corporation of Kentucky Filed Apr. 2, i962, Ser. No. 184,365 6 tliairns. (Ci. 225--'77) This invention relates to means for cutting string or the like, and, more particularly, to a container for a supply of string and having a cutting means incorporated therein.

Many forms of articles have been proposed for light duty work in the cutting of string for use in the home, in stores, or elsewhere, and wherein an inexpensive blade, such as a conventional fiat safety razor blade may be employed. As used herein, the term string is intended to include any strand material such as twine, thread, cord or the like. So far as known, however, conventional from certain handiovercome. For example, the element of safety is quite important and to insure suitable shielding of the cutting blade, complex constructions, especially when molded articles are to be made, have been resorted to and with concomitant increase in the cost of the article. Moreover, substantial sections of material for supporting the thin blade to prevent its breaking or maladjustment have been used and this, too, has added to the cost of the article.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple string-cutting apparatus in which a conventional safety razor blade or the like, may be safely and removably supported for cutting purposes.

Another object is to provide a container assembly for string incorporating a string cutting element as a part thereof.

Another object is to provide an inexpensive molded string-cutting apparatus employing a safety razor blade or the like as the cutting element thereof.

Another object is to provide a molded container assembly for a supply of string and with a molded stringcutting framework associated therewith, and adapted to employ a safety razor blade or the like for cutting purposes.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds and when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view with parts in section showing one form for mounting the container.

HQ. 2 is a face view, to a larger scale, of the container top and with a blade in operative position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and with the string and blade removed.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are tively on lines 4-4; 5; to a larger scale.

H68. 8, 9 and are sectional views taken respectively on lines 8-8; 9-9 and .iti-1tl of FIG. 3, and to a larger scale, and

FIG. 11 is a detail view similar to FIG. 9 and showing a modified form of container rim.

in accordance with the invention, a container for a wound supply of string or the like is provided with a top which serves as a support member for a framework holding a blade used in cutting the string. The support membar has sufficient rigidity to withstand the stresses placed upon the blade during the cutting action and is so formed as to assist the framework in shielding the sharp edges of the blade and in holding that blade in operative position. Preferably, the framework and support member are molded integrally with each other.

sectional views taken respec- 6--5 and 7'? of P16. 3, and

Referring now to FIGS. 1 ing a bottom 11 with bosses 13 is formed in one piece as by a molding operation, and preferably is made of a suitable plastic material. By means of screws 14 and 15 passing through the bosses, the container with its contents and its top may be supported rigidly upon a wall 16 or the like. Adjacent its open end the container is formed with a peripheral outer recess 17 into which a peripheral inner head 18 on the skirt 19 of the container top is adapted to engage. Although the container and the top are shown herein as having generally circular transverse cross sections, it will be understood that any desired non-circular transverse cross section therefor could be used without departing from the invention. Moreover, the support member, now to be described, may take various forms without necessarily serving as a top for a container.

This support member is formed, preferably of molded plastic, with a central portion 20 having a smhcient thickness to give rigidity to the framework associated there with, and when employed as the container top, has an aperture 21 therein through which the string 22 may pass from the interior of that container. In this form, the skirt 19, which may extend, either as a continuous band or as an interrupted band around the periphery of the support member, is adapted to overlap the upper rim of the container walls to a substantial extent, and to be held in close engagement with those wall-s when the head it engages in the recess 17, thus to resist dislodgment of the container top during normal usage of the structure.

Preferably, the support member is molded integrally with the framework and includes a pair of ribs 30 and 31 projecting laterally from one edge of the support memher and spaced from each other a distance which is greater than the length of the cutting blade to be employed. The rib 34} has a reduced height whereas the rib 31 has a greater height and extends above the plane in which tie blade is to lie, and for a purpose later to become apparent.

T he support member intermediate the ribs is provided with an upstanding wall 32 (PEG. 9) merging into a forwardly directed second portion or cover plate 33 adapted to confine the body of the blade on the upper side of that blade, as viewed in FIG. 2. Also, the support member adjacent each end of the wall 32 embodies fiat first portions 34 and 35 of the exterior surface of the support member. These fiat portions are adapted to confine the body of the blade on the lower side of the blade and to ermit the edge 36 adjacent the ends of that blade, as when a fiat safety razor blade is employed, to lie flush against these flat first portions of the member. The intermediate part of blade edge 36 is, of course, shielded by the wall 32, and this combined shielding and flush engagement of the blade accordingly provides safety against inadvertent contact of the blade edge 36 by the user. I

At its distal end the rib 30 is joined to a wall 4t ex tending toward rib 3i, and having a height corresponding to the height of rib 31. At its distal end, the rb 31 is joined to a wall 41 extending toward rib 30 and having a height corresponding to the height of wall 40. These walls, however, are spaced from each other to provide a notch therebetween and as best seen in FIG. 2, the tip of wall 41 preferably is curved and is slanted inwardly so as to guide the string toward the exposed edge 43 of the cutting blade. inwardly projecting from adjacent the top of wall it in the direction of the support member is a cover plate 44 and similarly projecting from'adjacent the top of wall 41 in the direction of the support member is another cover plate 45. As best seen in FIG. 2, these cover plates confine the body of the blade on the upper side thereof in cooperation with the conand 2 a container 10 havtherein as shown at 12 and fining action exerted by the second portion 33 of the support member. As will further be apparent, the entire edge 43 of the blade, with the exception of the portion exposed in the notch 42, is shielded by the walls 40 and 41 and at the same time the end 46 of the blade abuts against the inner surface of the rib 31, which rib serves not only to confine the blade against excess motion in one direction but also to index the blade in its proper functioning position.

Inwardly projecting from an intermediate height of both walls 44 and 45 and offset therefrom at its central position, is a shelf 50 serving to confine the body of the blade on the lower side thereof in cooperation with the confining action exerted by the first portions 34 and 35 of the support member. The location of the several above-described elements for confining the two sides of the blade preferably is such, when a flat blade is employed, as to form a slot-like space as best seen in FIGS, 4 and 9, into and from which the blade may be inserted or removed by endwise movement from a guiding position on the top edge of rib 30.

When inserted in this slot, the intermediate part of edge 43 of the blade extends in exposed relation into the offset space 51 (FIG. 3) which forms a continuation of the notch 42 in the walls 40 and 41. However,

this exposed blade portion is so fenced-in from the top, from the bottom, and from the side, by structural material of the framework, that the user cannot be cut thereby.

The container may be formed with the outer rim of its wall 27 symmetrical about its periphery, as when shifting of the support member top for that container about its axis, presents no problem. If, however, such shifting is to be avoided, the wall 27 of the container may be formed with a laterally projecting lip 52, as seen in FIG. 11, which lip may be disposed between the ribs and 31 and, if desired, extend to a point under the shelf 50 of the framework to provide additional reinforcing to the framework. The width of lip 52 is such as to cause an immediate abutting of one of its edges against one of the ribs, if the top starts to rotate with respect to the container body. It will be understood that in a preferred construction, the skirt 19 of the support member is terminated at edges 53 and 54 adjacent the regions at which ribs 30 and 31 respectively project from the support member. The gap in the skirt beneath the first portions 34 and and beneath the second portion 33 of the support member simplifies the molding procedures when a unitary support member and framework is to be molded.

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, the several advantages of the apparatus will now be apparent. An inexpensive fiat blade may be used, although, in its broader aspects, the invention is in no way limited to any shape of blade other than one which has a cutting edge 43. The blade is safely shielded and may readily be replaced when desired. The support member, which could be merely a block of suitable plastic material, may be readily molded and with the framework forming an integral part thereof and being molded by conventional techniques at the same time. The container portion, likewise, may be molded in one piece by simple molding techniques.

The ribs of the framework together with the walls and 41 joined thereto and with the shelf joined to each of those walls, provide a reinforced box-like structure which, together with the skirt 19 and central portion 20 of the support member serves to give strength and the necessary rigidity to the entire structure. It will be noted particularly that the cover plate 45 joins both the rib 31 and the wall 41 to provide a strong integral web therebetween. Thus, the blade which is confined on both of its sides will not be bent or unduly flexed as successive parts of the string 22 are cut off during continued usage of the apparatus.

The incline which is formed on the inner tip of wall 41 serves to cam the string toward the cutting edge of the blade, as seen in FIG. 2, thus, the user may cut the string with a quick jerk, if so desired, without dislodging or bending the blade which, as above described, is securely confined in the reinforced framework. Moreover, the pull effected on the blade during the string cutting action serves to force the end of the blade firmly against the wall surface of rib 31.

While in accordance with the patent statutes there has been described what at present is considered a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is intended, in the appended claims, to cover all such changes and modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for cutting string comprising a support member, a slotted framework attached to said support member, and a generally flat cutting blade detachably held in the slot within said framework and having a partially exposed cutting edge spaced from said support member,

said framework including a pair of ribs spaced from each other and projecting from an edge of said memher,

a pair of walls attached respectively to said ribs at the distal ends of said ribs and separated from each other to form a string-receiving notch therebetween,

a pair of cover plates projecting from said respective walls toward said edge of said member,

and a shelf projecting from said walls toward said edge of said member and lying in a different plane from said cover plates to form a slot for endwise reception of said blade toward one of said ribs,

said support member having first portions cooperating with said shelf to confine the body of said blade on one side thereof,

and having a second portion cooperating with said cover plate to confine the body of said blade on the other side thereof,

said first portions and said second portion of said support member lying in different planes from each other thereby to form another portion of said slot for said blade.

2. String-cutting means as defined in claim 1 wherein said first portions of said member comprise the fiat exterior surface of said member against which said blade may rest in close contact therewith.

3. String-cutting means as defined in claim 1 wherein said second portion of said member comprises a cover plate formed integrally with said member and projecting toward said wall portions of said framework.

4. String-cutting means as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said walls includes an inwardly inclined surface adapted to cam the string toward the exposed cutting edge of said blade.

5. Means for cutting string comprising a support member, a slotted framework formed integrally with said member, and a generally flat rectangular cutting blade detachably held in the slot within said framework and having a partially exposed cutting edge spaced from the support member,

said framework including a pair of ribs spaced from each other and projecting from an edge of said member,

one of said ribs having an upper edge serving as a guide for endwise movement of said blade into and out of said slot and the other of said ribs having a wall surface against which one end of said blade may abut,

a pair of walls attached respectively to said ribs at the distal ends of said ribs and separated from each other to form a string-receiving notch therebetween, said walls forming a shielding surface against which parts of the cutting edge of said blade may abut,

a pair of cover plates projecting from said respective walls toward said edge of said member,

and a shelf projecting from said walls toward said edge of said member and lying in a different plane from said cover plates to form a slot for endWise reception of said blade toward said other of said ribs,

said support member having first portions of its exterior surface cooperating with said shelf to confine the body of said blade on one side thereof,

and a second portion of said support member forming a cover plate attached to said member by an upstanding wall and cooperating with said pair of cover plates to confine the body of said blade on the other side thereof,

6 said upstanding wall forming a shielding surface against which parts of the other edge of said blade may abut.

6. String-cutting means as defined in claim 5 wherein 5 one of said pair of cover plates forms an integral web between one of said walls and said other of said ribs thereby to reinforce said framework.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 342,532 OBrien May 25, 1886 554,688 Heck Feb. 18, 1896 1,878,980 Bell et a1. Sept. 20, 1932 1,981,388 Perry Nov. 20, 1934 2,580,878 Bartlett Jan. 1, 1952 

1. MEANS FOR CUTTING STRING COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEMBER, A SLOTTED FRAMEWORK ATTACHED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, AND A GENERALLY FLAT CUTTING BLADE DETACHABLY HELD IN THE SLOT WITHIN SAID FRAMEWORK AND HAVING A PARTIALLY EXPOSED CUTTING EDGE SPACED FROM SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID FRAMEWORK INCLUDING A PAIR OF RIBS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER AND PROJECTING FROM AN EDGE OF SAID MEMBER, A PAIR OF WALLS ATTACHED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID RIBS AT THE DISTAL ENDS OF SAID RIBS AND SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER TO FORM A STRING-RECEIVING NOTCH THEREBETWEEN, A PAIR OF COVER PLATES PROJECTING FROM SAID RESPECTIVE WALLS TOWARD SAID EDGE OF SAID MEMBER, AND A SHELF PROJECTING FROM SAID WALLS TOWARD SAID EDGE OF SAID MEMBER AND LYING IN A DIFFERENT PLANE FROM SAID COVER PLATES TO FORM A SLOT FOR ENDWISE RECEPTION OF SAID BLADE TOWARD ONE OF SAID RIBS, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING FIRST PORTIONS COOPERATING WITH SAID SHELF TO CONFINE THE BODY OF SAID BLADE ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, AND HAVING A SECOND PORTION COOPERATING WITH SAID COVER PLATE TO CONFINE THE BODY OF SAID BLADE ON THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF, SAID FIRST PORTIONS AND SAID SECOND PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER LYING IN DIFFERENT PLANES FROM EACH OTHER THEREBY TO FORM ANOTHER PORTION OF SAID SLOT FOR SAID BLADE. 